Fulcrum-block for brake-beams.



PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

R. P. LAMONT.

PULORUM BLOCK FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

APPLIUATIDN FILED JULY 25,1903.

Patented February 21, 1905.

UN TED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ROBERT P. LAMONT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SIMPLEX RAILWAY APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FULCRUM-BLOCK FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters l-atent No. 782,971, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed July 25, 1903. Serial No. 166,934.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT P. LAMONT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Fulcrum-Block for Brake-Beams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway brake gear, and particularly to the means for attaching the brake beam at its fulcrum point to the brake lever, and consists primarily in the construction of the fulcrum block therefor. The objects of the invention are, to provide a fulcrum block which may be easily applied and is rigid when put in place upon the flange of the brake beam; to provide a fulcrum block of-two parts which is readily applied and has abutments to secure the parts firmly together on the forward side of the beam without the use of washers; to provide a fulcrum block with superior means for riveting the parts together and superior wearing jaws for the pivot pin of the-lever, and to generally improve the structure and lessen the cost of fulcrum blocks.

The above objects, together with other advantages whichwill hereinafter appear, I attain by means of the construction illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one half the fulcrum block showing the riveting boss thereon in partial section;

Figure 2 is an elevation taken at right angles to that of Figure 1, showing the inner face of one of the'halves of the fulcrum block;

Figure 3 is a view taken in the direction of the length of thebrake beam showing the fulcrum block placed thereon in complete condition.

There are advantages in making a fulcrum block in two pieces so that it may be easily applied to the brake beam without springing the parts or the necessity of slipping the same over the ends of the beam, and in such cases it is important that the forwardly extending jaws which form the support for the fulcrum pin should be held rigidly together. In order to gain these advantages, and also to be able to form the entire block of forged metal, I prefer to make the block of wrought iron or plate steel, and forge it in the shape shown.

The two parts are alike in structure. To lit the web 9 and flange 10 of the brake beam, I bend the shoulder portions 11 and the attaching ends 12 in the form shown in Figure 3; and in order to strengthen the ends which take the pivot pin of the lever I upset the ends at 13 making them thicker than the rest of the block and leaving the shoulder 14 back of the pivot holes 16. Between the end 13 and the shoulder 11 I provide a boss 15 which is punched into the metal, of the form shown in Figure 1, to take the connecting rivet 18. The bosses on the two halves of the block are intended to abut together as shown in Figure 1,when the two parts are placed upon the brake beam. They may be secured by the rivet 19 in holes 20, but it will he observed that the function of this rivet is merely to hold the two ears together and prevent their lateral displacement on the beam, the shoulders 11 taking the pull against the flange 10 of the beam itself. It will be understood of course that the forward extending fulcrum jaws 13 are parallel and are given a twist with respect to the rearward arm 12 of about degrees as usual, in order to accommodate the brake lever. 7

When the parts are put together, by reason of the snug fit over the flange and the close abutment of the bosses 15, the block is thoroughly attached to the beam and very stiff on the forward side, so that with the strength of wrought metal and the convenience of the two-part construction it is yet as rigid as a one-piece fulcrum block as usually made. Other advantages of the device will readily occur to those familiar with its use.

Having thus described my invention and its use, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A forged fulcrum block made of plate metal, and having on each of the jaws a forged indentation or boss formed behind the pivot opening so that the two jaws are in contact by said bosses, substantially as described.

2. A brake beam fulcrum having two open jaws and each of said jaws having a punched or forged boss formed therein and a rivet connecting said two bosses, substantially as described.

3. A brake beam fulcrum comprising two parts made of forged plate metal, each of which has a re-inforced end for the fulcrum pin and behind the same an inwardly projecting boss punched or forged in the metal, the

bosses on the two parts meeting to make the block rigid and a rivet placed therein to hold the parts together, substantially as described.

4. A two-part fulcrum forged block having ends bent to embrace the flanges of an I-beam and extended parallel pivot jaws, the parts being each provided with a forged inwardly projecting abutment forward of the beam, whereby the parts are in contact between the beam and the pivot pm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunder signed my name in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT P. LAMONT.

Witnesses: PAUL CARPENTER, CHAS. H. EBERT. 

